Heavy rain warning - flooding advice and information

nidirect - Sunday 11th February, 2018

Heavy rain has been forecast. You can find advice below about how to prepare for any potential localised flooding. It might be useful to take note of the Flooding Incident Line - 0300 2000 100. There is also information about what to do if your house does suffer flood damage.

Weather warning

A weather warning for heavy rain has been sent out by the Met Office.

Weather warnings from the Met Office let the public and emergency services know about potentially hazardous conditions.

You can find out more about weather warnings on the Met Office website.

Emergency numbers

You should note the following numbers in case of emergency:

- Emergency services - 999 or 112

- Northern Ireland Electricity Networks - 03457 643 643

- NI Gas Emergency Service - 0800 002 001

- Northern Ireland Water Waterline - 03457 440 088

- Flooding Incident Line - 0300 2000 100

- Housing Executive - 03448 920 901

- Report a fallen tree or blocked road - 0300 200 7891

Flooding Incident Line - 0300 2000 100

The Flooding Incident Line is available 24 hours a day, every day. You can report flooding problems on roads or burst water mains and blocked drains.

When you ring the flooding incident line, a member of staff will:

- take all your details

- contact the appropriate agency on your behalf

This is a non emergency number, so if you are in danger, call the emergency services on 999.

You can get more information about flooding at the following link:

- Flooding in your area

Roads information

If there are any problems on the roads as a result of flooding, you can get the latest updates on the TrafficwatchNI website.

Public transport

You can find the latest information about bus and rail services on the Translink website.

Burst pipes

There is information about what to do if a pipe bursts:

- Steps to reduce the risk of burst pipes

Preparing for a flood

To help reduce the impact of flooding on your home, you should:

- have some sandbags or floodboards or plastic covers prepared to block doorways and airbricks

- keep a list of useful contact numbers such as your local council, emergency services and your insurance company

You can get more details on the preparing for a flood page.

Driving and walking in flooded areas

You should always plan your journey and check the latest weather and travel advice.

Do not travel in heavy rainstorms unless absolutely necessary.

In flooded areas, drivers should not:

- enter flood water that is moving or is more than four inches deep

- under any circumstances, drive through fast-flowing water as the car could be swept away

In more shallow but passable water:

- slow down

- avoid creating bow waves which can damage your car engine; and

- remember to test the brakes after leaving the water

Do not attempt to walk through flooded areas. Even shallow water moving fast can sweep you off your feet and there may be hidden dangers such as:

- open drains

- damaged road surfaces

- submerged debris; or

- deep channels which can result in serious injury or, in the worst cases, death

If you do become stranded in flood water and you feel there is a risk to life, dial 999 for emergency assistance.

- Driving in adverse weather conditions

Insurance claims after a flood

If you are going to report flood damage to your insurance company there are certain things to remember. You should keep a record of the flood damage and any contact you have with the insurance company.

If you have different insurers for the structure of your home and your content, make sure you contact them both.

If you live in rented accommodation, the landlord will deal with the structure of your home. For content claims, contact your own insurer.

You can find out more at this page:

- After a flood - making an insurance claim

Risks related to flooding

Be aware of hidden dangers under the water, such as missing manhole covers, and guard against the possibility of falling into fast-flowing water.

The risk of becoming ill after contact with flood water is generally low. However, as it is not always clear whether flood water is contaminated, you should assume that it is and take appropriate precautions.

Preventing health problems

There are a number of things you can do to prevent health problems if your home floods:

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